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Author: denise240

Bob Kaelin Presents at IACP Technology Conference 2018

MTG Senior Partner Bob Kaelin conducted a workshop at the 2018 technology conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The workshop, Taming the Technology Dragon, was designed to help organization leaders understand the broad array of technologies available to law enforcement organizations, as well as the resources needed to sustain them. A key focus was anticipating costs and staffing demanded by these complex systems. Leadership needs and alignment of leadership development with technology efforts were also discussed, and the essential tools were highlighted. The conference ran from May 21 to 23 in Providence, Rhode Island. For further information on the Technology Conference, see the IACP Technology Conference website.

We’ve Moved!

MTG is pleased to announce that we have moved to a new location in Seattle’s central business district. Our new office is located on the sixth floor of the Central Building, an eight-story structure that was constructed in 1907 and features an ornate marble lobby. The Central Building was designated as a Seattle Landmark in 2008.

MTG’s newly remodeled space enables us to better leverage technology, featuring secure and stable high-speed Internet connectivity, as well as a spacious conference room with a large-screen TV monitor that allows seamless sharing of documents and presentations. These features enhance our capacity for in-office collaboration and allow us to provide high-quality, responsive service to our clients.

The new location also provides great commuting, lunch, lodging, and after-work options for employees and guests in the central corridor of downtown Seattle. Our new office is a key resource to help us connect with our far-flung and diverse clients, employees, and industry groups in a vibrant and efficient environment.

After several years of effort, the Electronic Court Filing (ECF) Technical Committee of OASIS LegalXML is issuing its first Committee Specification Draft of ECF 5.0 for a 60-day public review. MTG partner Jim Cabral is co-chair of the committee, and has been very active in this effort. This draft is an important milestone, leading to the next major version of the standard that has been widely adopted by courts and solution providers across the country. The specification details how XML is used to transmit legal documents among court participants, including courts, attorneys, self-represented litigants, and others involved in legal proceedings.

The specification is available for public review and comment. You can find the announcement at the ECF Announcement page on the OASIS Website.

This June, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System announced the Court Compass Project to Benefit Self-Represented Litigants. This project seeks to develop a compendium and analysis of court-offered solutions for self-represented litigants, along with maturity models to guide the development of integrated solutions in courts nationwide. The goal is to provide insight and guidance to court systems as they develop online portals designed for litigants who choose to represent themselves in legal proceedings. As part of the effort, the project has compiled research on the portal services currently available and in development, so that courts can learn from one another to develop solutions for these litigants. A wide range of services is available, including like self-help content, video libraries, mobile apps, e-filing and smart forms, live chat and text messaging, online dispute resolution and online legal advice, and scheduling tools.

Courts are often challenged to make the most effective use of these tools, because it is difficult to integrate tools developed by a variety of sources. MTG is a participant on the OASIS Litigant Portal Technical Committee, which is currently working to develop technical standards that would assist with interoperability of solutions created by different sources. Within the next 9 to 12 months, the committee should have standards developed that will aid the courts as they seek to create effective, flexible, and cost-efficient litigant portals.

MTG’s Chief Executive Officer, Joe Wheeler, recently received recognition from the University of Washington Foster School of Business. Joe was recognized for his contribution in serving as a mentor for MBA students over the past 10 years. In this role, Mr. Wheeler hosts first-year MBAs at MTG headquarters to give them exposure to real world consulting operations in a national firm. He also mentors second-year MBAs as they finish their studies and launch their post-graduation careers.